Hinge

ABSTRACT

A SPRING-BIASED HINGE WHICH IS BIASED AGAINST THE OPENING OF A CABINET DOOR IS DISCLOSED. SUCH A HINGE ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR A LATCH ON A DOOR. THE SPRING BIASING MECHANISM IS SIMPLER THAN PRIOR ARE DESIGNS, AND INCLUDES A SPRING RETAINED IN ONE HINGE PLATE WITHOUT AN EXTRA MOUNTING MEMBER, AND A CAM FOLLOWING WHICH RIDES A TONGUE ON THE OTHER HINGE PLATE.

'March 9,1971 1.0. UFFNE 3,568,241

' I HINGE Filed May 14, 1969 INVENTOR. Joseph D. Uffner ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,568,241 HINGE Joseph D. Uifner, Elrnhurst, N.Y., assignor to US. Industrial Corporation, Corona, N.Y. Filed May 14,1969, 'Ser. No. 824,626 Int. Cl. Ed 11/08; E0511 l/1 2.

US. Cl. 16-142 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a spring-loaded hinge which is biased by a spring toward self-closing or selfopening over a predetermined range of travel.

The present invention provides a hinge comprising two plates pivotably connected together for relative rotation about an axis, a cam integral with the first plate and disposed on the axis and cooperating with a spring or spring-loaded cam-follower member mounted on the second plate, the cam being so constructed or arranged as to include a dwell portion or recess which corresponds with the open or closed position of the hinge. Contrary to prior art designs, the spring and cam follower require no separate mounting member.

This arrangement has the advantage that a door or other member supported by the hinge may be retained in the open or closed position by the force of the spring. Moreover if a cam surface is provided which, apart from its recess or dwell portion, is equidistant from the axis, the door or other member can be held in a partly open position without bias towards closing or opening.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, in which the hinge is biased for self closing, the recess in the cam corresponds with the closed position of the hinge. In such a preferred embodiment, the cam may consist of a tongue integral with the first plate and curved part way around the axis, and cooperate with a cam follower mounted on the second plate and urged towards the axis by a spring also mounted on the second plate; at a point in the opening of the hinge predetermined by the length of the tongue, the cam follower rides onto the tongue against the force of the spring. The hinge is then biased for selfclosing over that range of travel in which the roller is being forced from the axis.

The cam follower has a convex surface on one side shaped to conform to the outer surface of the curved tongue. On the opposing side, it has a longitudinal groove adapted to retain the spring. The cam follower can be made of nylon, Teflon or metal.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show schematically the principle of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention in the open position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge of FIG. 4 taken along the line 55;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 with the hinge in the closed position;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show various configurations of hinges that may be made in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 10 shows a general perspective view of a hinge in the part-open position.

3,568,241 Patented Mar. 9., I971 FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 demonstrate schematically the principle of the invention. Two plates 1 and 2, shown in cross-section, are pivoted together round a pin 3. The plate 1 has a tongue 4 integral therewith which curls part way round the pin 3. The plate 2 mounts a member 5 urged iowards the axis of the hinge and against the surface of the tongue 4 by a spring 7 In the preferred embodiment illustrated the member 5 is a cam follower mounted on a wire 6 (actually part of the spring). When the hinge is in the open position (FIG. 1) cam follower 5 rides over the surface of the tongue 4 and the hinge may be moved freely without bias in either sense of rotation. When the hinge is closed in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 2 a point is reached at.which cam follower 5 reaches the end of the tongue 4. It is then urged towards the axis by the spring 7 and rides or drops into position behind the tongue 4 so that the hinge is, at this range in its travel, biased toward closing. When the hinge is fully closed the cam follower 5 ispast the end of the tongue 4. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 cam follower 5 abuts the pin 3 when the hinge is in the closed position. This particular hinge would have a certain degree of free movement in the closed position. However, if desired, the tongue 4 may be extended so far round the pin 3 that the roller 5 never touches the pin 3, even when the hinge is in the completely closed position. Opening of the hinge to any extent then compresses the spring. The end of tongue 4 is tapered to facilitate movement of cam follower 5.

FIG. 4 shows a hinge having two plates 11 and 12 hinged together along an axis A. The plates 11 and 12 pivot about pins 13 which are held by curled-over parts 14, 15 of the plate 11; similar curled-over parts 16, 17 of the plate 12 extend round the pins 13 so that the plate 12 is pivoted about the said pins. Plate 11 also carries a tongue 18 extending partly round the pins 13. Plate 12 mounts a spring 19 which carries a cam follower '20. The spring 19 is trapped by a projecting tongue 21 on the plate 12, and, in the open position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 at least, urges the cam follower 20 towards the common axis A. The spring 19 is held in position by plates 22 which project upwardly from the plate 12 as seen in FIG. 4 and are bent over.

When the hinge is in the open position as shown in FIG. 5, movement of the plate 12 in either sense relative to the plate 11 does not change the distance of the cam follower 20 from the axis A and therefore no bias exists on the opening or closing of the hinge.

When the hinge is in the completely closed position, as shown in FIG. 6, cam follower '20 is urged by spring 19 into contact with pins 13, having ridden over the tip 18 of tongue 18. The hinge is now biased against opening. Note that tip -18' of tongue 18 is a slanting surface, rather than being normal to tongue 18. This facilitates cam follower 20 riding up and onto tongue 18 when the hinge is opened.

FIGS. 7-9 show various configurations of plates 11 and 12 which may be employed with the invention.

- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the hinge configuration shown in FIG. 9.

In an alternative embodiment, the tip 18' of tongue 18 may be extended further than shown in the drawings. In this embodiment, when the hinge is closed cam-follower 20 is only half off of tongue 18, rotating slightly around the axis of spring 19. This makes the bias against opening somewhat less strong.

Various changes in the details, steps, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by these skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge comprising:

a hinge pin;

a first hinge plate having means forming a hinge pin sleeve for retaining said hinge pin and rotation therearound;

a second hinge plate having means forming a hinge pin sleeve for retaining said hinge pin and rotation therearound;

spring means retained on one of said plates, said spring means comprising a pair of oppositely facing U- shaped portions joined by an intermediate portion along at least one leg, said joined portion being parallel to and spaced from said hinge pin sleeves;

said spring means being retained on said one plate by a pair of projections around the opposing ends of said U-shaped portions and a single projection retaining the intermediate portion;

a tongue formed in the other of said plates and extending partially around said hinge pin; and

a cam follower retained between the joined portion of said spring means and said tongue, the surface of said cam follower adjacent said tongue conforming to the curve of said tongue.

2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip of said tongue is slanted toward the hinge pin, whereby movement of said cam follower thereover is facilitated.

3. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, where the length of said tongue is such that said carn follower is olf said tongue when the hinge is closed.

4. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of said tongue is such that said cam follower is partially off said tongue when the hinge is closed.

5. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cam follower contains a groove for retaining the joined portion of said spring means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1968 Jerilla et al l6l39 5/1968 Jerilla 16139 U.S. c1. X.R. I 

